villejean



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. G. VILLEJBAN 8v H. J. J. FROSSARD.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AGETYLBNE GAS.

Patented Mar. 15, 1898;

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PNOTULITND. WBNINGTON, D: C

(No Model.) 3 Sheets+8heet ;"3. E. G. VILLBJBAN & H. J. J. FROSSARD.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AGETYLENB GAS.

Patented Mar. 15, 1898.

FIG. 5-

THE NORRXS Ps'rzns co. Puma-uric WASHINGVOPL o, c.

UNrrEn STATES PATENT UEEICE.

EUGENE GABRIEL VILLEJEAN AND HENRI JEAN JOSEPH FROSSARD, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ACETYLENE GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,563, dated March 15, 1898. Application filed February 10,1897. Serial No. 622,780. (No model.) Patented in France July 18,1896, No. 258,191.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that we, EUGENE GABRIEL VILLEJEAN and HENRI JEAN J OSEPH FROS- SARD, 0t thecity of Paris, France, have invented an Apparatusfor the Automatic Generation of Acetylene Gas, (for which we have obtained Letters Patent in France for fifteen years, dated July 18, 1896, No. 258,191,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to apparatus for the automatic generation of acetylene gas from calcium carbid and at a pressure below one atmosphere and in such manner that the production of gas is limited proportionally to the rate of consumption.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which we have illustrated two types of apparatus as examples.

Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a portable lamp, and Fig. 2 a vertical section of a gas-generator suitable for a gas-supply by means of service-pipes. Fig. 3 is a modi fication, and Fig. 4 is a detail view, of the capillary regulator, drawn on a larger scale.

The object of the invention is attained by means of a water-supply regulator comprising a capillary tube a, of which the diameter to suit the rate of flow may be found by Poisenilles formula. The size of the drops is regulated by Oates law, and in order to increase their number per minute, with the object of diminishing the chances of fluctuation of the flame, the conical dropper-nozzle of the capillary tube is made of as small a diameter as possible and is connected to said tube by means of a screw-coupling and compressible washer. The regulator-tube is provided with a valve-chamber 1), containing a float c, Fig. la rubber ball, for example-said chamber being made in halves screwed together and luted with cement to prevent leakage. A constant pressure of gas is obtained by maintaining constant the height of the column of water in the regulator. This result is obtained by converting the water-reservoir d into a Mariottes bottle, for which purpose two tubes are provided, one, e, which rises from the lower reservoirf to the burner, its lower end being beveled and having a hole at 9, so as to permit of the drops of water ofcondenby an india-rubber packing p.

sation falling without causing the flickering of the flame. The othertube, h, extends from the cover of the Mariottes bottle to the regulator, which is a continuation of it, and is pierced with two rows of holes c' is, placed about one centimeter apart, the upper row i for the admission of air to the vessel d and the lower row It for the passage of water to the regulator, the active level being in the plane of the upper row of holes 2'. Within the tube is a valve Z, operated by a screw-rod m, working through the cap pierced with one or more air-admission holes '11, as shown in Fig. 2, serving to close the passage of water into the regulator, no other valve being necessary, as the supply of water is regulated by the consumption at the burner.

It will be understood that the forms of apparatus in which the above-described devices are embodied may be greatly varied, those shown in the drawings being merely examples.

In the portable lamp the water-reservoir forms the upper part of the lamp-body, while the lower part f contains the gas generated and the holder 0" for the calcium carbid seated in the removable base 0, which is unscrewed for charging, the joint being made gas-tight The cal-bid is placed on a conical tray q, of wire-gauze, placed point downward within the holder 7*. The water is introduced through a filling-hole 8, closed by a cap.

The generator shown in Fig. 2,which is more especially intended for use in lighting railwaycarriages and lighthouses, is also constructed of two superposed containers d and f, as before, which are separated by a dome 25, forming the bottom of water-reservoir (1, upon the under side of which the aqueous vapors formed become condensed, the water being thereby heated and prevented from freezing. If necessary, the gas may be caused to pass through a worm u with a similar object. When the heating of the water is not necessary, the two vessels may be made separate, as shown in Fig. 3. The water is introduced at a filling-orifice 8, closed by a cap, and air is admit-ted through holes 77..

o is an emptying-hole.

a: is an india-rubber packing for the joint between the chambers f and d, which are conhaving been placed in position the waterchamber is filled with filtered water, and, if

the apparatus has not been before in use, the a regulator. is primed by unscrewing the capillary nozzle and the water allowed to flow by raising the piston until the jet is of the full diameter of the tube and the ball floats. The nozzle is then screwed on, care being taken to see that the water trickles from it. upper and lower parts are then connected and water allowed to run onto the carbid, whereupon acetylene gas is generated and the internal pressure rises, and immediately it equals that of the column of water equilibrium is established, the water is driven back, and the rubber ball rises, arrests the supply of water, and prevents the entrance of gas into the water-chamber. As the pressure is diminished by the consumption of gas at the burner it no longer balances the column of water in the regulator, the ball falls and al lows water to flow in, and so on. The water on contact with the carbid decomposes it; but the reaction is so rapid that the lime formed according to the equation is at once disintegrated, is dried by contact with the adjacent carbid, passes between the lumps of carbid, and falls to the bottom of the casing. Apertures provided at the base of the carbid-holder permit the water of con- The duction of gas ceases,the lamp continuing to burn until the internal pressure corresponds to that of the atmosphere, when the flame expires. If a cock be provided on the gas-pipe,the closing of it will cause the internal pressure to increase and the float to close the water-supply tube. As a precaution the valve Z should also be shut when the pressure would be slightly raised, but never to a dangerous extent.

The apparatus is inexplosive and easily operated without the use of parts liable to get out of order.

We claim- 1. In an apparatus for generating acetylene gas, the combination of a means for supporting the carbid, a Mariottes bottle serving as a liquid-reservoir, and a tube for leading liquid from said Mariottes bottle to the carbid, provided intermediate its length with a float-chamber containing a float, whereby the supply of liquid to the carbid may be antomatically regulated, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

2. The herein-described apparatus for automatically generating acetylene gas and regulating the production thereof, consisting of a means for supporting the calcium carbid, a liquid-reservoir and means for conducting the liquid from the reservoir to the said carbid, the same consisting of a capillary tube provided intermediate its length with a float-chamber containing a float, said tube terminating in a dropper for delivering the liquid to the carbid in drops.

The foregoing specification of our apparatus for the automatic generation of acetylene gas signed by us this 27th day of January, 1897.

EUGENE GABRIEL VILLEJEAN. HENRI JEAN JOSEPH FROSSARD. Witnesses:

EDWARD P. MAOLEAN, MAURICE H. PIGNET. 

